11: Chapter 11: Winning Over the Beauty and Learning of the Husband Selection

The wind rustled the leaves of the old locust tree at the mouth of the alley. A strand of hair at Zhao Hongling's temple was lifted, lightly brushing the back of Chen Xuan's hand, causing a slight itch.

He didn't withdraw his hand. Instead, he took the opportunity to tuck that stray strand behind her ear, his fingertips grazing her slightly flushed cheek.

"Don't be angry. If you get any angrier, your face will puff up like a steamed bun," he said, then laughed at his own remark.

Zhao Hongling raised her hand to swat his away, muttering "annoying" under her breath, yet the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl upward.

She turned her head away from him, her toes scuffing the gravel on the ground, her voice dropping lower. "Who needs you to pacify me?"

Chen Xuan tucked his hands into his sleeves, tilting his head as he looked at her. "Then what do you need?"

She pursed her lips, mumbling after a long moment, "You know perfectly well in your heart."

Chen Xuan grinned, fishing out a small cloth bundle from his sleeve and handing it over. "Here, prepared this for you a while ago."

Zhao Hongling took it, opened it, and found a jade hairpin inside. It was pure white, with a small plum blossom carved at its head. The style was simple yet elegant.

"You bought this?" she asked, looking up at him.

"Picked it up in passing at the market," Chen Xuan said, scratching his chin. "Figured since you're always poking me with your hairpin, I might as well give you a nice one. It'll be more comfortable to poke me with."

Zhao Hongling burst out laughing. She lowered her head to fiddle with the jade pin, her fingers stroking the plum blossom. Softly, she said, "Who wants to poke you with this... you dummy."

The slight tension between them dissipated just like that, swept away by a gust of wind and a single hairpin.

Chen Xuan breathed a sigh of relief, straightening up as he leaned against the wall. "Is this alright now? Can we go back?"

Zhao Hongling carefully put away the jade pin and finally deigned to look him in the eye. "Go back for what? To watch you two continue your duet performance?"

"What performance!" Chen Xuan was caught between laughter and exasperation. "That was sparring! A serious matter!"

"A serious matter that made your eyes light up?" she shot him a sidelong glance. "Leng Shuang executes a sword move, and you exclaim 'marvelous' like you've found a gold ingot. I fry you an egg, and all you say is 'not bad'."

Chen Xuan was taken aback for a moment, then let out a hearty laugh. "You still remember that?"

"My memory is excellent," she snorted, turning her back to him. "You think everyone is as thick-skinned as you, with a heart big enough to fit the whole street?"

Chen Xuan's laughter faded, his tone turning a bit more serious. "It's not that my heart is big. I was afraid saying more would only make you more upset."

"I don't get upset," she immediately retorted, turning back to glare at him.

"Alright, alright, you don't get upset," he raised his hands in surrender. "My mistake. From now on, I'll praise every meal you make loudly. Deal?"

Zhao Hongling finally nodded in satisfaction, but then suddenly lowered her voice. "Actually... I'm not really that petty about it. It's just... I heard some news earlier, and it made me a bit anxious."

Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow. "What news?"

She glanced left and right, confirming no one was around, then took a step closer, speaking in a hushed tone. "A letter from my family. They say the Empress is going to hold a grand Husband Selection Ceremony, inviting talented young men from across the land to the capital."

Chen Xuan was momentarily stunned.

"You... wouldn't think of going, would you?" she stared at him, her eyes probing.

Chen Xuan didn't answer immediately. Instead, he narrowed his eyes, as if calculating something.

After a moment, the corner of his mouth lifted in a faint smile. He muttered to himself, "Husband selection? Hah. A public search for a consort, but secretly selecting talent."

"Huh?" Zhao Hongling didn't catch it clearly.

"I was thinking," Chen Xuan turned to look at her, "this is a good opportunity. With the Empress presiding personally, those who attend are sure to be top talents from all regions.

"If I can show my skills, not only would I gain fame, but I could also make connections, open up paths. How could I miss out on such a good thing?"

Zhao Hongling's expression changed instantly. "You really want to go?"

"Why not go?" he spread his hands. "I never said I wanted to marry the Empress. I'll just go for a look, see the excitement, make a few friends, and incidentally build a reputation. It's a great deal."

"But it's a Husband Selection Ceremony!" her voice rose an octave. "If you go, what will others think? What will Leng Shuang think? I..."

She couldn't continue, biting her lip and turning her head away.

Seeing this, Chen Xuan's tone softened. "You, is your head full of vinegar jars? I promise you, I won't compete for that position. I'm just going to take a look, broaden my horizons.

"Besides, if I really had that intention, would I still be here bickering with you?"

Zhao Hongling glared at him. "Who knows what schemes you have in mind."

"I have only one scheme in mind: to live freely, practice martial arts diligently, and not lose a single person around me."

He smiled. "Especially you, with a temper loud enough to collapse a roof. If I dared to leave you behind, wouldn't you chase me all the way to the capital and stew me alive?"

She was torn between wanting to laugh and refusing to show it, her face contorted as she turned away.

"Let's go," Chen Xuan reached out to gently guide her by the shoulder. "We'll talk serious business back home."

The two of them walked out of the alley one after the other. Sunlight spilled onto the bluestone slabs, casting two long shadows.

When they returned to the small courtyard, Leng Shuang was sitting under the corridor, wiping her sword. Her movements were slow and steady, the blade gleaming coldly.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up.

Chen Xuan nodded at her. Zhao Hongling, on the other hand, deliberately coughed twice, puffed out her chest, and walked over to sit on the other side, putting on an air of "I'm very important."

Chen Xuan didn't expose her act. He walked straight to the center of the courtyard and stood still. "Just heard some news. The Empress is holding a grand Husband Selection Ceremony, inviting talented youths to the capital."

Leng Shuang's hand paused, her gaze deepening. "You plan to go?"

"I'd like to take a look," Chen Xuan said frankly. "Such an occasion will gather masters from all over. It's a great chance to see the world. If I can make some useful connections, it'll benefit us in the future."

Leng Shuang was silent for a moment, then slowly sheathed her sword. "The capital's waters run deep. Intrigue outweighs swordsmanship. If you go, I'll accompany you."

A single sentence, uttered lightly, yet carrying the weight of a thousand pounds.

Zhao Hongling immediately chimed in, "Of course! I'm going too! I won't let you face all those flirtatious types alone!"

Chen Xuan looked at the two of them—one offering cold-faced protection, the other fiery companionship—and a wave of warmth surged in his heart.

He grinned. "Alright then. The three of us will head to the capital together. Let's see what kind of spectacle this Husband Selection Ceremony really is."

"Don't get cocky," Zhao Hongling poked his chest. "Once we're there, you're not allowed to talk to others, not allowed to praise anyone else's swordplay, not allowed to..."

"Not allowed to be tempted, right?" he finished with a laugh.

"Right!" she glared.

"Then all I can say is..."

He put on a serious face, "my heart was taken by someone long ago. Even if I wanted to be tempted, I couldn't."

Zhao Hongling's face flushed red. She immediately lifted her leg to kick him, but Chen Xuan, having anticipated it, jumped aside with a laugh.

Leng Shuang lowered her head to adjust her sword scabbard, the corner of her mouth twitching almost imperceptibly.

Having decided, the three of them returned to their respective rooms to pack.

Chen Xuan rolled a few changes of clothes into a bundle and stuffed in the book "Basic Fist Principles." This was the starting point of his martial path; he had to bring it.

Before leaving, he stood at the courtyard gate and looked back at the small yard where he had lived for over a month. The pot of wild chrysanthemums in the corner had bloomed. The cloth shoes airing on the windowsill still swayed in the wind. The outer robe hanging on the bamboo pole by the door billowed in the breeze, looking like a human silhouette.

He reached out and pulled the door shut. With a click, the latch fastened.

"Let's go," he turned around, smiling at the two waiting by the roadside. "We'll meet in the capital."

Zhao Hongling, her pack on her back, bounced over. "Just don't go weak in the knees when you see the Empress and can't walk."

"My legs are plenty strong," he patted his thighs. "It's you I'm worried about. Don't complain about being tired on the road."

"Whoever complains is a puppy!" she retorted, hands on her hips.

Leng Shuang silently walked forward, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with him, her gaze fixed on the official road ahead.

The autumn sun shone brightly, dust lightly swirling.

The figures of the three gradually receded into the distance, setting foot on the long road leading to the capital.